Let the rat race run, roll around in the sun until
Trouble turns funny, songs get sung
A little bit of money, the night's still young
Leave me alone I've got a license,
A license to chill
Jimmy Buffett
Born 76 years ago in Pascagoula, Mississippi, James William Buffett – better known as Jimmy – is an unlikely and unusually likable tycoon. He turned songs and books of sun, fun, rum and regret into a billion-dollar real estate, brewing, resort, restaurant and casino empire.
Margaritaville Island Reserve is a Buffett-inspired luxury all-inclusive brand operated by fast-growing Karisma Hotels, which also features AI brands including El Dorado Spa Resorts, Azul Beach Resorts, Generations Resorts, Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts, Sensatori Resorts and others.
TravelPulse Canada had previously toured the two Margaritaville Island Reserve properties in Mexico -- the Riviera Maya while it was under construction, the Riviera Cancun not long after its opening.
My preconception was that the Margaritaville concept could easily veer towards kitsch, but instead I was won over by the vibe -- a sense of happy calm created by the décor, layout, well-chosen music, gardens and design. I hoped to return for a stayover experience someday. When the opportunity came to visit the Cap Cana property – located just 15 minutes from PUJ airport – it was fins up.
View from a deluxe junior suite. (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
Here’s my report:
“You can put that in your article, sweetie!” she said, poking me in the chest with a well-tanned finger.
I had approached a fellow guest and her husband at Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana, after I overheard her saying that it was their seventh stay at the property. Since the resort only opened its doors in November, 2021, I found that rather extraordinary.
“We were here three days after the doors opened,” said the American woman, who did not wish to be named. “We would have been here on the first day but somebody went and died and we had to go to the funeral.”
The nerve of some people!
“What keeps bringing you back?” I asked. “The staff,” she replied. “I love the people here. We keep in touch on Facebook. The suites are beautiful, the food is delicious and the pools are lovely. We travel to other places, but this is where we take our main holiday(s).”
Bedroom area of a deluxe junior suite. (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
Not your average guest, of course, but our experience over four nights reinforced much of what she said. At 628 sq. ft., our Deluxe Junior Suite was a cool tropical oasis with smart lighting and climate controls, colourful beachy décor, his and hers sinks, a soaking tub, rainfall shower and spacious balcony overlooking meandering pools and the Caribbean Sea.
All told, the resort offers 228 guestrooms/suites, with the entry-level Paradise Room a comfortable 522 sq. ft. There are also 40 luxury villas, each with a private balcony pool. The largest accommodation is the Jimmy Buffett Suite at 1,905 sq. ft., including a dining table for 10. There are 13 accommodation categories, including swim-up and honeymoon suites.
The lobby of the adults-only Hammock section. (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
The resort is split in two – the Hammock section is for adults-only, the Wave section for families. Each has its own lobby and check-in area. The ‘Entertainment Village,’ where most of the restaurants are located, is a shared space for all ages.
Overall, the food at Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana was excellent, from a delicious breakfast spread at The Boathouse to several tasty lunch choices and a range of included evening specialty dining venues. The Boathouse is described as a ‘food display’ restaurant rather than a buffet, as there are several food stations where meals are prepared while you wait.
The pools really are lovely, with options for the party crowd, anchored by the 5 O’clock Somewhere swim-up bar, a quieter pool closer to the beach with the Salty Rim swim-up bar, and a family-focused Wave section pool with slides and water features for the little ones. There’s also a private pool area for villa guests, which snakes around the S.O.S. Bar.
Fun with foam at the 5 O'Clock Somewhere bar. (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
The pools are important because the beach area immediately at the property is rocky and there was lots of sargassum present during our visit. You can walk further along the beach for a cleaner entry to the water, but we also noticed a lot of broken glass in the sand. The property does not offer watersports, though excursions are available for snorkeling and other aquatic pursuits.
The beach is beautiful but summer has brought sargassum. (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
Being that it was August, and the Dominican sun was relentless, the beach area was pretty much unused during our visit. That might be different in the prime winter months, when seaweed is less prevalent and the sun more forgiving.
Our seven-time guest singled out the resort staff for praise, and we can wholeheartedly agree. The Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana staff always had a warm smile, generally spoke enough English to understand requests, and were eager to ensure everyone was having a good time.
There's live musical entertainment every day at Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana. (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
Despite occupancy of around 40% during our mid-week visit, there was still entertainment each night. A resident singer had a strong repertoire in both English and Spanish and we watched an excellent local rock band one night. On the weekly Dominican Night, the Entertainment Village was decorated, clowns and costumed entertainers moved through the audience. There was an outdoor buffet, mobile bars and even a face painter for the kids.
Touring the LandShark brewery with head brewer Juan Castillo. (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
There’s an onsite brewery making the popular island-style lager LandShark, part of the Margaritaville franchise. The LandShark Brewery also offers good-quality grilled and smoked meats and pub-style favourites.
For dinners, we really enjoyed Frank and Lola’s Italian Trattoria, and the JWB Steakhouse served excellent meat and fish. We weren’t quite as taken with the Asian ‘street food’ at Mo So Wi, which perhaps catered a bit too much to North American tastes.
We found the Mediterranean menu at KOS intriguing, but on the day we tried to have lunch there the restaurant was not at its best. After receiving just one appetizer and two wrong orders in 90 minutes, we headed to Cheeseburger in Paradise for a tasty burger accompanied by deep fried dill pickle chips.
A delicious Dominican appetizer at Rum Runners. (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
My personal favourite meal of the week was a Dominican lunch at the Rum Runners bar and restaurant. The resort teamed with Dominican celebrity chef Leandro Diaz to create several menu items, and my ‘Banana Flowers’ (meal-sized) appetizer was exceptional.
Each of four cups made from deep-fried plantain contained a different filling, including garlic shrimp, stewed beef, long-cooked goat and fried pork belly. We also tried coco fongo, a delicious combo of shrimp in a silky coconut sauce, breaded fresh fish and rice and pigeon peas. Dominican specialties were also featured on the breakfast and lunch menu at The Boathouse.
Joe Merchant’s Coffee & Provisions offers freshly brewed Dominican coffee, smoothies, sandwiches, pastries and suites. It shares space with a shop where guests can turn nightly points into items to customize their in-room minibar.
The minibars are stocked with bottled water only, and everything from mixers to rum, beer, wine and snacks can be purchased with points or pesos. Many guests accumulate their points and use them for small souvenirs like Dominican coffee and honey.
Staff at Margaritaville Island Reserve Cap Cana always had a smile. (Photo Credit: Bruce Parkinson)
Overall, we found a lot to like at Margaritaville Cap Cana. If your clients want a chill, sophisticated all-inclusive experience with good food, drink, tunes and service, it’s one to be recommended. And it will likely be even better as occupancy increases toward the winter season and the excellent staff really get to strut their stuff.
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